Arlington Times

360 Athletics supports youth athletes

Members of the Smokey Point Volleyball Club are included in a new athletic training program, 360 Athletics, founded by club director Kevin Williams. / Courtesy Photo

ARLINGTON — Youth athletes in Arlington now have a place to train not only their bodies, but their hearts and minds as well.

360 Athletics is a new nonprofit organization in Arlington, which aims to take care of athletes in several ways.

“I’m the owner of the Smokey Point Volleyball Club and we are going into our fourth season,” said Kevin Williams, founder of 360 Athletics. “Last year I started 360 Athletics for training student athletes, but we wanted to have other resources as well.”

Williams, who is a 25-year law enforcement veteran, said that when he was on the force he dealt with kids who had fallen through the cracks.

“I spent my career dealing with the by-product of not investing in those kids,” he said. “I want to give them a place where they can be supported.”

360 Athletics offers tutoring help, a college recruiting program and a complete strength and conditioning program.

“We also have nutritionists on staff and a sports psychologists, to get these students the help they need,” said Williams.

Right now, 360 Athletics is working only on volunteer help and is in the process of finding a permanent building to house the organization.

“We are currently in the process of getting off the ground and we are hopeful that we can find the right place,” said Williams.

Although the organization is based in Arlington, they are not rejecting students from other locales.

“We’ve got kids from Arlington, Everett, Marysville and Lake Stevens. We are drawing more and more kids as we become more well known,” said Williams. “This is all volunteer and it’s going to take some help to really do what I’m hoping to create.”

360 Athletics is the only nonprofit organization that provides athletic, academic and career support for student athletes in the area. 360 Athletics currently offers club sports programs as well, but right now they just have volleyball.

“We are trying to start a boys league. Right now our girls league has grown from 35 to 65 players,” said Williams. “We are hoping to add basketball and tennis as well.”

Overall, the organization is looking to build an all-around program.

“We’ll have a classroom, computers, a Washington State certified teacher, and each athlete will have access to those things,” said Williams. “Hopefully this will end up being a really good thing for the community.”